Vending machine



May 13', i930.

A VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1927 s sheets-sheet 1 c. H. CURTIS v 1,758,390

C. H. CURTIS VENDING MACHINE May 13, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 192'? C. H. CURTIS VENDING MACHINE May 13, 1930.

Filed Dec. 27, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR.

\\ MJA/ m ATTORNEY.-

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Patented May 13, 1930 Unirse srarss PATENT OFFICE f CHARLES H. CURTIS, OF WHEATRIDGE, COLORADO VENDING MACHINE'.

Application filed December 27, 1.927. Serial No. 242,569. n

My invention relates to vending machines, and more especially to vending machines in whichthe merchandise handled is wrapped in packages, or enclosed in boXes or cartons.

The object of my invention is to provide a vending machine that is simple and positive in operation, `rugged in construction, and which is` cheap to manufacture.

` A further object is to provide a vending machine which is diflicult or impossible t0 rob without partial destruction of the machine.

A further object is to provide a vending machine in which the merchandise is visible, so thatnot only the purchaser but also the 15 service man may see at a glance the amount as well as the kind of stock still held by the machine.

A further object iste providesuch a machine that is simple andeasy toy service, so that the money may be collected and anew stock of merchandise installed with a lminif mum of time and trouble. j accomplish the above objects by'provid-v ing a machine in which, in` each unit, but one article at a time is delivered by the movement of the carriage for that unit, which-is` normally prevented from making the Vcomplete delivery movement by one or more triggers contacting against a locking shoulder, the proper coins, VwhenV in place, acting to raise the triggers to clear the locking shoul-1 der and permit the full delivery movement of the carriage to take place, the coins being deposited in the cash drawer prior to the completion of the deliverymovement. The merchandise, of any given kind, shape or size is stocked in separate columns within the case of the machine, and behind a glass plate.

Each column of merchandise is controlled by a separate carriage. The article just above the one beingy delivered is automatically held in place and prevented from dropping down upon the article being delivered by the i iirst part of the delivery movement of the carriage, and is not released till the completion of the return from the delivery movement.

.My vending machine is described more in detail below and in the drawings, in which f- VFigure 1 is a partial'elevation and ragy mentary section through one unit of my Vending machine.

Figure 2 is a vfragmentaryr plan View of my veniing machine showing the plan of one uni Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing one end unit of my vending machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing the slots of the coin slot plate.

Figure 5 is a section through the trigger guard of the coinplate on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. y

Figs. 6 and 7 are detailviews of the eject-k ng mechanism showing two positions of the same. .l The back 1 of the case is mounted by the hinges 2 to one end piece 3, and when closed is locked to the other end piece 3 b the locks 4, only one of which is shown. fact, un less the case` is quite high, onelock for the back 1 will probably be enough.

The back 1 is provided with a flange 5 which lits over the top 6, holding it closed.

When'the back 1 is opened, the top 6 may 75 be'raised, as it is hinged at eitherV end to the end pieces 3 by the pins 7, only one of which is shown. v lThe top 6 is, at either end, providedk with' a flange 8, which fits outside the end piece 3. Q

' Each end piece 3 is provided with a lug 9 to which is attached thel tie band 10 by the screwsv 11.

Each end piece 3 is also provided with a lug 12, to which is attached thetie bandlll by the screws 15. n

Each end piece is also provided with the shelf 16,V upon which slides the cash drawer 17,'which is to be locked by the lock 18.

The delivery slide 19 is at each end provided with a flange 20, the screws 21 holding the delivery slidev and the end pieces together, the end pieces acting to'support the slide.V

y Theslide, if desired, may be made of a casting instead of formed sheet metal as shown.

The base'plate 22 is provided with stud bolts 23 which pass through lugs 24 in the end 'piecea `the nuts 25 holding the end pieces 100 The @a r firmly upon the base plate, and making the machine inaccessible Vfrom below.

The pedestal 26 is an integral part of the base plate 22 5 but in case the vending machine is placed upon' a table or counter, the base plate 22 is to be made without the pedestal 26. Thecoinislot plate 27 is held in place by the ,end pieces 3', bythe. screws28Y and: by the flanges 29 of the end pieces 3.

The cash drawer 17 when closed covers the screws 28 so that they-'are inaccess-ib'lei- Y The flanges 29 of the end pieces 3, the top 6, and the coin slot plate 27, all combine tohold the glass merchandise cover plate, or front plate 3() in place.

i The mercfl'iancl'ise-is stocked inacolumn in each unit, between the glass front plate 30, the two division walls3l, andthe' division wallq` flanges 322' Y The lowermost article of merchandise rests upon the tilting table 33, which is pivotally mountedl upon' the shaft 34, the heavier end 38' being normally held", up sothe 'table' is horizontal by contact of the other endy `with the locking. waill 35 of the carriage platform 36, whichjoins theV two carriage side barsf37. Before goin-g further into the description of the mechanism of the vending unit, it will now' be seen'that theservice man may first 3o glance at the glass front plate 30 and at once perceive the amount of restocking required by'thefvarious columns.`

Illel may unlock the cash drawer 17 and colleet the' coins therefrom, and then close and 3'5 re-lock the drawer.l v

He nextui'ilocksI and opens the backl, which allows him to then raise thetop 6', so that he' may replenish, with new' stock the stockcolumnofeach unit ofthe machine.` He c next closes the top, then closes and locks the back, and the servicing of the'machin'e has Vbeen easily andquickly accomplished,

`The vending machine is all enclosed; there arene bolts, screws or other factors on its .i5 exteriorwhich would make it easy to be robbed by thefam'a-teur thief with a screw driver, wrench, or piece'fof bent wire.

Should a thief attempt to rob the machine by pulling the. handle 139 without depositing 5e therequired coins in the coin slots, the trig gers 40 andA 4l, by contact with the locking shoulder 42,.y stop the movement of the carriage' beforethelocking wall 35 has reached the pivot shaft 34 of thev tilting table 33, so that the tablel is still held horizontah and the inecjhandise is-stillinaccessible.V Y

'lfhef' carriage rails 431 are provided with full length slots 44, and with grooves in the upperfaceofthefrails carriage.46` isfprovided with the cylindrical operating rod 48, upon which is secure-d the handle 39. Y

The carriage rails 43 are recessed to receive the coin delivery band 49, which is secured to the rails 43 by the screws 50.

The trigger shaft 51 is mounted in holes through the rails 43, the spacer sleeves 52 fitting over the shaft 5l and acting to properly position the triggers 40 and 4l.

i The return .spring` shaft 53,'is mounted in holes in the rails 43, and the coin carriage shaft 54 is mounted in a hole through the coincarriage 46, these two shafts being oined by the tension return springs 55.

The slotted lever shafts 56 are mounted in holes inthe rails' 43 and carry the slotted levers 57, properly .spaced by the sleeves 58 held in place by the washers 59 an-d the cotter pins 60;

The coin carriage shaft 54 is received by the slots of theI slotted levers 57. Y

. The merchandise stop 62, slidable in the grooves 45 of the rails 43, is connected to the slotted levers by the merchandise stop rods 61;* y

is the handle 39 is pulled, the carriage platform 36 moves under th-e rear of the article just above the one being delivered, which is supported by the tilting table 33; and at the same time, the merchandise stop 621, through action of the rods 61, slotted levers 57 and coin carriage shaft 54, is moved backward and under the f-r'ont end `of the same article, thus effectively preventing it from 'dropping down upon the article being delivered.

' The curved lip 63 of the stop 62. provides a means of'setting the machine for articles of different thicknesses, or permits the perfect setting of the machine for an article without slow,'and costly changes in the proportions of the machineh 1 The lipt 63 is merely bent as required to the exact-position where it will move in above the article being delivered, and below the second article in thecolumn.

It is evident thatmy vending machine may befufsed to venfd articles with considerable range in cost'by the 'employment of the proper number of coin slots of the proper size, and by making the rest'of the machine to conform thereto.

' However, for simplicity in explanation', the drawings, and this description 'deal only with alA machine selling articles for fifteen' cents, that is, requiring one five cent piece and one tencent piece for its operation.

Y Anickel is placed in the slot 64 of the coin slot vplate 27, andl a ldime is placed in the slot/65.

. The nickel falls intothe nickel slot 67 and the dime falls into the slot 68 of the coin carriage 46', bothV coins then resting against Ylil() nickel being shown at 71 and the dime at 72 in Figure l.

In case an attempt is made to insert a penny inthe dime slot 65 it will be Jfound that the slot is too small to receive it.

If a penny is inserted in the nickel slot 64 it will fall straight through, as indicated-at 73, Figure 1, and be returned down the delivery slide 19.

lVith both coins in the proper positions 71 and 72, the handle 39 is then pulled, and the coins ride up on the edge of the coin delivery band 49 to the positions shown at 74 and 75.

Further movement of the handle 39 forces the coins to contact with the bevels 69 and 70 of the'triggers 40 and 41 respectively.

This raises the triggers against the pressure of the springs 78, tilltheir lower corners 79 will clear the locking shoulder 42, of the coin carriage 46. i

As the carriage continues its movement the coins are discharged intok the cash drawer 17 as shown at 76 and 77, the action ofthe springs 7 8 assisting in this discharge.

Just after the discharge of the coins into the cash drawer, the locking wall 35 moved far enough to permit the tilting table 33 to revolve about the shaft'34, allowing the article toslidedownwardupon v the table 33 and discharge upon thedelivery slide 1:9.

When the handle 39 is released, the springsl return the entire, carriage to its original position as shown in Figure 1the slotted levers 57 and the merchandise stop rods 61 acting to return the merchandise stop 62 and release the front end of the second article, as the rear end of the article is released by the final return movement of the platform 36.V

above the one just delivered, is thus allowed to drop down upon the tilting table 33, and

. ing the full delivery movement. dime only, is inserted, the nickel trigger 40 the machine is ready for the next delivery.

It willbe seen that because of the locking wall 35 keeping the table 33 horizontal, it is impossible to rob l,the machine without raising theltrigg'ers 40 and 41 to -clear the lockingY shoulder 42. i A

And because of the trigger guard 66, and the stiff springs 78 and the angle of the'trigger bevels 69 and 70, it isimpossible even with a bent wire to raise the'triggers so as to permit the full delivery movement of the carriage. l n

' And because fof the merchandise stop 62 and the platform 36 it is not only impossible to rob the machine by reaching up along the deliveryslide 19 at the end of the delivery movement, but it is also impossible for more than yone article to be delivered at each complete delivery movement of the carriage.

Also, if a nickel only, is inserted, the dime trigger 41 will contact with the locking shoulder 42, and prevent the carriage from mak- And, if a will contact with the locking shoulder 42 and prevent the carriage from making the full delivery movement.

It' the article is .to sell for twenty cents, the machine will have two dime slots, triggers and complementary parts.

If the article is to sell for twenty five cents, a single slot, trigger, and complementary parts, adapted to take a twenty five cent piece, will` be employed.

If the article is to sell for forty cents, there will be a twenty live cent piece slot, a nickel slot, and a dime slot, with allnecessary com# plementary parts to go with same.

In other words, whateverthe price of the article, the proper number and size of slots n I am also aware that there are vario us mechanical equivalentsthat may be used in the .disposition of various bolts, screws, pins, rods, shafts, springs, and other parts.

So, I do not wish to limit my protection narrowly to the exact construction shown and described, but what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as folflows v The second article, that 1s, vthe larticle next 1. In' a coin operated vending machine having a case adapted to store vendible articles of merchandise in a laterally stationary vertical column behind a glass plate, a pivotally mounted table adapted to normally support said column and t'o deliver the lowermost article by pivotal movement of the table after a predetermined movement of said article along 'the table, and ani'anually` operated carriage slidable above saidttable toa delivery position and having a platform adapted to contact withv and move the lowermost article along the table and to slide under and support the next article thereabove and adapted by olf-center contact with said table to prevent said pivotal delivery movement thereof prior to the completion oi said determined movement.

2. In a coin operated vending machinehav Y ing a case adapted to store vendible articles of merchandise in a laterally stationary vertical column behind a glass plate, a pivotally mounted table adaptedvto normally support said column and to deliver the lowermost article by pivotal movement afterk a predetermined movement of said article along the table, a manually operated carriageadapted y having a case-.adapted to store vendible arti- Vmountedtable adapted to normally support said column and to deliver the lowermost article by pivotal movement near the completion of a delivery movementof said article toa delivery position, a manually .operated lcarriage adapted to move said' article tol said delivery position and means'carried by said carriage Yadapted to move under the article next above the lowermost article and prevent its deliverytherewith.

4L In a coin operated vending machine cles of merchandise in a laterally stationary vertical column behind a glass plate, a pivotally mounted table adapted to normally support said column and to deliver the lowermost article by pivotal movement near the completion of a delivery movement thereof along said table to a delivery position, amanually operatedcarriage adapted to move said article to said delivery position, and means carried by the carriage and adapted to be moved thereby under the. article next above the lowermost article and prevent its delivery adapted to vend merchandise by a manually;

opeiated coin controlled delivery carriage, a pivotally mounted table adapted to normally support alaterally stationary column of articlesv of merchandise to be vended and a platform-.on the carriage normally spaced from the Vpivotal mounting of the table and ycontacting withthe table to maintain it normally in the supporting position, and adapted to move under and'support the said column above the lowermost article and to vpermit the tilting ofthe table and the delivery of merchandisdwhen by the movement of the carriage the platform becomes-adjacent the pivotal mounting of the table.

' 6. In a coin operated vending machine adapted to vend merchandise by a manually operated coin controlled delivery carriage, a pivotally mounted table adaptedto support a laterally stationary column of articles of merychafndise to be vended, a lock-on the carriage normally spaced from the pivotal mounting and contacting with the table to maintain it normally` in thel supporting position, and adapted to permit'the tilting ofthe table and the delivery of the merchandise when the lock is moved by themovement of the carriage adjacent tlrei pivotal mounting of the table, a

stop adapted to move under the article next above the one being delivered and prevent its being delivered therewith, means connecting the stop and the carriage and adapted to move saidv stop by the movement of the carriage, and a platform on the carriage adapted to be moved under the article next above the one being delivered, by the delivery movement of the carriage.V

7. In a vending machine adapted to deliver one articleofmerchandise by each delivery movement of a manually operated, normally locked, and coin controlled carriage, a pivot-` ally mounted table adapted to support a laterally stationary column of articles of merchandise to be vended, a locking platform on Vthe carriagenormally spaced' from the pivotal mounting and 'contacting with the table to maintain it normally in the supporting position and adapted to permit the tilting of the tableand the delivery of the article rest-ing directly thereon when the locking platform is moved by the delivery movement of the carriage to the delivery position adjacent the pivotal mount-ing of the table and under the article next above the lowermost and stop means adaptedto be moved by the movement ofthe carriage under the article nextabove the one being` delivered, and thereby-assist the loclringpliatform to prevent its being delivered therewith.v

8. rPhe combination of a cabinet having a glass plate in one wall thereof and provided with a plurality of spaces for laterally stationary columns of merchandise behind the glass plate, a pivotally mounted table adapted to'no'rm'allyy support each column `of merchandise, a` manually operated coin controlled delivery carriage adapted to deliver the lowermost article of-'each of said columns upon a delivery movement to a delivery posi- `tion co-operating with each table, a platform on each carriage normally spaced from the pivotal/mountingV of its corresponding table and contacting with its table to maintain it vnormally in` the supporting position and 

